Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-07-24
CHAPTER NNNIV.
TASTA coErzEE TO THE RESCUE.

TANTA COETXEE 70 THE ESCtE
After Jess had been set free ythe Beers
outside Hans Coetzee's place, John was
sharply ordered to diSmOunt and Otfsaddle
his horse. This he did with the best grace
that he could muster. and the horse was
~knee-haltered and let loose 10 feed. Ii
was then indicated TO him that he was to
enter the house, which he also did, closely
attended by two of the BOerS. The room
into which lie was conducted was the same
that he had first become acquainted with
on the occasion OF the buck hunt that had
so nearly ended in his extinction. There
was the buckenhout table, and there Were
the chairs and coUches made Of StinkwOOd.
Also, in the biggest chair at the other end
of the ROOM, n moderate sized SlOp-bISin
full of coffee by herSide, sat Tauta Coetlee,
still actively employed IN doing absolutely
nothing There, toe, Were the showIiy-
dressed young women: there was the sur
dOniC lover of one ut them, and all the
posse OF young men with rifles. The
whole place and its characteristics were
uuite unchanged, and on entering it John
felt inclined to rub his eyes and wonder
whether the events of the last few months
had been nothing but a dream. The only
thing that was different was the welcome
that he received. Evidently he was not
expected 10 shake hands all round on the
present occasion. Fallen indeed would
the BOer have been considered who, with,
in Il few days OF Maiuba, offered to shake
hands with IL wrctchcd English rooibaatie
picked up like 4 lame buck on the veldt.
At the least he would have kept the cere'
mony for private celebration, il only ont Of
respect to the feelings of others. On this
occasion Johns entry was received in icy
silence. The old woman did not deign tC
look up, the young ones shrugged their
shoulders aud turned their backs, ~
though they had suddenly seen something
that WAS not nice. Only the cOuntenanct
of the sardOnic lover sOttcncd 10 u grin.
John walked to the end of the room
where there was Il vacant chair and stood
by it.
"IIave | your permission To sit down,
ma'am?' he said ut last, in a loud tone,
addressing the old lady.
Dear lOrdn' said the old lady to th'
man next to her, what n voice the poor
creature has; it is like II bulls. What
does he say
The man explained.
THE floor is the right place for English,
men and Kafirs,' said the old lady, 'hut
after all he is a man aud perhaps sore with
riding Englishmen always get sore when
they try to ride and then with startling
energy she shouted ont.
est | will show the rooibaatie he is
not the only one with a voice, she added,
by way of explanation.
A subdued sniggie followed this sally OI
wit, during which John took his seat with
all the native grace that he could com
mand, which at that moment was moi
much.
Dear me-" she went on, presently, for
she was q bit OF 4 humorist, he looks very
dirty and pale, doesn't he? | suppose the
poor thing has been hiding in the ant-bear
holes with nothing to eat. ! Am told that
up in The DrakeDsberg yOnder the ant-bear
holes are full of Englishmen. They had
rather starve in them than come out, iOl
tear lest they should meet a BOer."
This provoked smother sniggle, aud then
the Young ladies took up the hall.
Are you hungry, roOibaaiie:" asked
II in English.
John WAS boiling with fury, but he was
also starving, so he answered that he was.
Tie his hands behind him, and let Us
see if he can catch in his mouth, like u
dos" suggested one OF the gentle youths.
"No, no.; make him eat pap with q
wooden spoon, like u Katir," said another.
II will feed him if you have a very long
spoon"
Here again was legitimate cause for mer'
riment, but in the end matters were com
promised by a limp Of biltong and a piece
of bread being thrown to him from the
other end of the room. He caught them
and proceeded to eat, trying to conceal his
ravenous hunger ~ much rs possible IRON
the circle o. OnlOOkeTs who clustered round
to watch the operation.
''CaroluS, said the old lady to the sar'
donic aftianced of her daughter, there are
three thousand men in the British army"
"Yes, my aunt"
''There are three thousand men in the
British army" she repeated, looking round
angily ~ though somebody had question,
ed the truth of her statement. II tell
you that my grandfather's brother was a
Cape Town in the time of Governor Smith,
and he counted the whole British army,
and there were three thousand of them"
That is so, my amt" answered
Carolus.
Then why did you contradict me,
C~arolus?"
al did not intend TO, my aunt"
II should hope not, Carolus; it would
yex the dear Lord to see a boy with
squint" (Caro!us was slightly afflicted in
that way contradict his future mother
in-law. Tell me how many Englishmer
were killed at Laipg's Nek?"
Mine hundred" replied Carolus,
promptly.
"And at Ingogo9n
six hundred and twenty"
"And at Majuba?"
Zone thousand"
''Then that makes two thousand five